Electric tape dispenser



Aug. 16, 1966 s. ORTNER ELECTRIC TAPE DISPENSER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 5, 1964 1 INVENTOR SAM UE L ORTNER BY Aug. 16, 1966 s. ORTNER ELECTRIC TAPE DISPENSER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 5, 1964 um. u.

'IIIIIIIIIIII Zm M n SAMUEL ORTNER Arrow/5Y5.

Aug. 16, 1966 s. ORTNER 3,266,354

ELECTRIC TAPE DISPENSER Filed Nov 5, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 l 320) 322 INVENTOR.

W JAMl/EL 087N132 46a BY 4% 1 rm. /2 WM Aug. 16, 1966 s. ORTNER ELECTRIC TAPE DISPENSER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 5, 1964 a H I040 HG. l5

INVEN TOR. JAM/4 02/71/512 WM 4 702: Vs.

United States Patent 3,266,354 ELECTRIC TAPE DISPENSER Samuel ()rtner, 305 Plane St, Newark 2, NJ. Filed Nov. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 408,701 14 Claims. (Cl. 83-57) This application is a continuation-in-part of my earlier application Serial No. 297,060 filed July 23, 1963, of the same title.

This invention relates to an electric tape dispenser, and has as its primary object the provision of an electrical apparatus for dispensing moistened, gummed tape in any desired length, and severing the same, the tape feeding and severing operations being accomplished by electrical means.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electric tape dispenser which quickly and efficiently feeds a predetermined quantity of tape, moistening the same, if desired, and cutting the tape in order that a user will have ready access thereto.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which will feed tape continuously as long as a circuit is closed, and which, after the requisite length has been fed, will sever the tape by means of a solenoid actuated knife on the closing of another circuit.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an electric tape dispenser having means whereby the two circuits cannot be closed simultaneously to prevent the feeding of additional or excess tape when the knife is in severing position.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is extremely rapid in operation, and whereby any length of tape may be fed continuously by the simple closure of a circuit by means of a pushbutton.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide an electric tape dispenser which may be operated to feed a continuous length of tape or which may be preset to automatically dispense a fixed quantiy of tape.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel timing device for use in an electric tape dispenser or the like whereby a predetermined length of tape may be auto- 7 matically fed therefrom.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a device which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and wherein eificiently and completely moistened tape is fed continuously up to any desired length commensurate with the roll contained therein or in premeasured lengths, and severed at the desired length.

Still other objects reside in the combination of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein there are shown preferred embodiments of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of one form of an electric tape dispensing device constructed in accordance with the instant invention, the top being cut away, certain concealed parts and a water bottle being indicated in dotted lines.

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse crosssectional view taken substantially along lines 3- 3 of FIGURE 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken Patented August 16, 1966 substantially along the lines 44 of FIGURE 2, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, partially broken away, taken substantially along lines 55 of FIGURE 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 66 of FIGURE 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 7 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the electrical actuation of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the housing for a modified embodiment in accordance with the instant inventive concept;

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 99 of FIGURE 8 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows with the portions of this embodiment similar to the previous embodiment being omitted for illustrative clarity;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 1010 of FIGURE 9 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 1111 of FIGURE 9 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 12 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the electrical circuitry of the modified embodiment;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to FIGURE 5 showing the knife switch in the modified embodiment;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary elevational view of the portion of the device shown in FIGURE 13;

FIGURE 15 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 15-15 of FIGURE 9, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary top plan view of the housing showing a modified form of switch construction;

FIGURE 17 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 17-17 of FIGURE 16; and,

FIGURE 18 is a fragmentary schematic wiring diagram of the modified circuit employed with the switch of FIGURE 16.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail and more particularly to FIGS. l-7, one embodiment of the electric dispenser of the instant invention is generally indicated at 10 and comprises a housing having a main body port-ion which includes opposite side walls 11 and a base 12. An arcuate rear Wall 13 closes the space between the side walls and the base, and the latter is supported on rubber feet 14. The rear of the housing defines a substantially circular chamber across the lower portion of which extend paper roll guide rollers 14 upon which is adapted to rest a roll of gummed paper R. Paper spacer plates 15 having reduced ends are engaged in selected slots 16 in the lower rear wall portion 13 to align paper rolls of different widths.

An arcuate lid 16 having side flanges 17 is pivotally mounted as on a pivot pin 18 carried by lugs 19 at the upper extremity of rear wall 13, the flanges 17 being adapted to overlie the tops of side walls 11 when the lid is in closed position.

A paper supporting plate 20a included a vertical portion 20' which serves as the stop for the paper roll R and a downwardly inclined portion 20 which is secured between the side walls 11 extends downwardly to a forwardly extending portion 21, the paper from the roll extending downwardly over the plates 15a and being held in position by a paper hold down plate 22. Portion 20 has a longitudinally extending slot 23 therein which is aligned with a similar slot 24 in hold down plate 22, the purpose of the slots being hereinafter defined.

A paper roll guide 25 is mounted on a transverse axle 26 extending between the side walls below the vertical portion 20'.

A paper feed wheel 27 having a corrugated rim and a hub 28 is mounted on an axle 29 and secured in position as by means of a set screw 30. The axle 29 extends outwardly through the side wall 11 of the main body portion into a supplemental housing generally indicated at 31, which includes an inclined upper top wall 32, having an inclined control panel portion 33, a rear wall 34 and a bottom wall 35. The end of the supplemental housing away from the main body portion is open and is covered by a lattice or grid 36. The supplemental housing contains an electro counter motor of conventional design 38 and includes a drive shaft 40 which is connected directly to the axle 29. A supplemental shaft 41 which is driven by suitable gearing from the motor carries a cooling fan 42 positioned adjacent the grid 36. Motor 38 is supplied with current through a conduit 43 which extends through a suitable bushing 44 in the wall and contains power lines 44 and 45, the connections of which will be more fully described hereinafter, Wheel 27 extends through slot 24 and rests on top of the extended end of gummed paper extending from roll R, and when the paper is clamped thereagainst, in a manner to be described more fully hereinafter, serves as a feed roll for the paper.

A secondary pressure arm assembly includes a yoke means comprising a first U-shaped yoke 48 which is pivotally mounted on a pivot 46 extending transversely between side walls 11, and which has secured to an upper corner thereof by means of the pivot pin 47 a second U-shaped yoke 48 provided at its free end with an axle 49 upon which is mounted a pressure wheel50 which extends upwardly through slot 23 in alignment with wheel 27. Yoke 48 engages against a spacing hub 51 which is mounted on a transverse axle 52 extending through yoke 48 and journalled in the side walls 11 of the body.

A coil spring 55 surrounds shaft 40 and has one leg 56 engaging an arm of yoke 45 and its other leg 57 engaging the underside of yoke 48 to bias wheel 50 upwardly toward wheel 27 about pivot 47. The entire as sembly normally swings about pivot 47 in such manner that insufiicient pressure is exerted by wheel 50 on the underside of the paper to affect movement thereof by rotation of wheel 27. However, the lower end of yoke 48 is connected to a coil spring 58 which has its opposite end connected by means of a pin 59 to the core 60 of a solenoid coil 61, the latter being mounted in a frame 62 which is secured as by means of bolts 63 to a bracket 64 which extends inwardly from the adjacent side wall 11. Energization of the coil is effected through wires 65 and 66 in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter, and the coil when energized pulls the core 60 inwardly in such manner as to bias wheel 50 against the underside of the paper passing over the plate 20a and forces the same against feed wheel 27 to effectually feed the paper downwardly over the portion 21 of the plate 20a.

A second solenoid frame 70 is secured by means of bolts 71 to bracket 64 and carries a coil 72 which in turn surrounds a core 73. The core 73 has connected thereto by means of a cotter pin 74 the bottom of a severing plate 75. The severing plate has a central opening 76 therein, and extends across the end 21 of plate 20a, a severing knife 77 being carried at the top of the opening 76 so that when the core is retracted byenergization of the coil 72 through wires 78 and 79 in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter, the knife effectually severs the paper extending through the opening 76. A stop flange 80 is provided under the portion 21 and coil springs 82 are connected at their lower ends to the opposite top corners of plate 75 as indicated at 83. The upper ends of the springs 82 are connected to bolts 84 which extend into the side walls 11.

A lip guide 85 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 86 which extends between the side Walls 11 on the opposite of severing knife 77 and a paper weight plate 87 is pivotally mounted on an aligned upper shaft 88. Plate 87 is provided at its outer end with a weight 89 which lies directly over the end wall 13a of the body and beneath the end 16a of the cover.

Moistening brushes 90 are positioned beneath the underside of plate 87 beyond the end of lip guide 85, and are carried by base members 91 which are seated in a water receptacle 92 carried by a support 93 interiorly of the frame. The water receptacle 92 is provided with a filling portion 94 which extends outwardly through an opening in the adjacent side wall 11 and which is adapted to receive the neck 95 of a water bottle 96, the other end of which is held in a bracket 97 extending outwardly from the side wall 11.

A main toggle switch 100 is mounted on control panel 33 and is located in main supply wire 45, so that closure of toggle switch 100 closes the circuit to motor 38 through wires 44 and 45.

A tiltable switch member 101 is pivotally mounted on a pivot 102 in a bracket 103 carried by control panel 33 and is normally centralized by means of springs 104 and 105 adjacent the opposite ends thereof. Actuating arms 106 and 107 depend from the opposite ends of switch member 101 and carry at their lower ends contacts 108 and 109, respectively. Contacts 108 and 109 are connected by a common wire 110 to line 45. Contact 109 is adapted to engage a contact 111 when the switch member 101 is pivoted in that direction, the contact 111 being connected to wire 66 which in turn is connected to the solenoid coil 61, the opposite wire 65 leading to a terminal 112 in line 44. The arrangement is such that when the toggle switch 100 is closed and the motor is rotating, engagement of contact 109 with contact 111 closes the circuit through the coil 61 withdrawing the solenoid core 60 which moves pressure wheel 50 into position to clamp the paper against feed wheel 27 continuously rotated by the motor 38, the paper being fed as long as the circuit is closed.

Contact 108 is located opposite contact 113 which is connected through wire 79 to one end of solenoid coil 72, the opposite end of the coil being connected through wire 78 to a terminal 114 with the wire 44 so that when the switch arm 101 is tilted in the opposite direction, the circuit is closed to energize solenoid coil 72 which withdraws core 73 to move knife 77 to paper severing position. The arrangement is such that the two solenoids obviously cannot be energized simultaneously, so that the paper knife is inoperative until the feed mechanism is stopped. Similarly, the feed mechanism cannot be operated while the knife is down or in a position to block the feed of the paper thereby preventing a pile up in back of the plate 75.

Thus, it will be seen that a tape dispensing device is shown in FIGURES 1 to 7 comprising a housing defined by the side walls 11, the base 12, the rear wall 13, and the lid 16, means .for carrying a roll of tape 14', 15 being provided within the housing, tape guide means including a lower guide plate 20a and an upper guide plate 22 resting on the lower guide plate with the tape adapted to pass from the roll R between the guide plates, aligned slots 23, 24 in the guide plates 20a, 22, a feed wheel 27 carried by the housing and extending through the slot 24 into contact with one surface of the tape, motor means 38 operatively connected to the feed wheel 27 to rotate the same, a source of electric current, first circuit means 44, 45 interconnecting the source of electric current to the motor means 38 to energize the same, a pressure wheel 50 aligned with the feed wheel 27 and extendab'le through the other slot 23 into contact with the opposite surface of the tape, support means 48 carried by the housing and rotatably supporting the pressure wheel 50, the support means normally maintaining the pressure wheel out of pressing contact with the tape, first solenoid means 61, second circuit means 45, 110, 66, 65, and 44 interconnecting the source of electric current with the first solenoid means 61 to energize the same, first switch means 109, 111- in the second circuit means normally maintaining the second circuit means open to normally de-energiz'e the first solenoid means 61, a first core 60 carried by the first solenoid means 61 and operatively connected to the support means 48 to move the pressure wheel 50 into pressing contact with the tape on closing of the first switch means 109, 111, and energizing of the first solenoid means 61, severing means 75, 76, 77 carried by the housing in juxtaposition to the tape, spring means 82 normally maintaining the severing means out of cutting contact with the tape, second solenoid means 72, third circuit means 45, 110, 78, 114 and 44 interconnecting the source of electric current to the second solenoid means 72 to energize the same, second switch means 108, 113 in the third circuit normally maintaining the third circuit means open to deenergize the second solenoid means 72, a second core 73 carried by the second solenoid means 72 and operatively connected to the severing means 75, 76, 77 to move the same into cutting contact with the tape on closing of the second switch means 108, 113, and energizing of the second solenoid means 72, the second switch means 108, 113 being closable only on de-energizing of the first solenoid means 61 by opening of the first switch means 109, 111.

The support means is seen to include a first yoke means 48 rotatably carrying the pressure wheel 50 at one end, a second yoke means 48a, pivot means 47 interconnecting one end of the second yoke means 48a with the other end of the first yoke means 48 at substantially right angles to each other, a support bar 46 carried by the housing, the second yoke means being rotatably connected to the support bar 46 in spaced relation to the pivot means 47 at the one end of the second yoke means 48a, the pressure wheel 50 being normally maintained out of pressing contact with the tape under the influence of gravity, and the first core 60 being operatively connected by spring 58 to the other end of the second yoke means 45. The severing means includes the severing plate 75 having an opening 76 aligned with one end of the guide plates 22 for reception of the tape therethrough, knife means 77 carried by the severing plate 75 on one side of the opening 76, the spring means 82 being secured to the severing plate 75 on the same side of the opening 76, and the second core 73 being operatively connected to the severing plate 75 by the cotter pin 74 on the other side of the opening 76.

A paper moistening means in the form of the brushes 90 carried by the reservoir 92 is seen to be positioned on the side of the severing means 75, 76, 77 remote from the feed wheel 27.

First and second switch means are provided in the second and third circuits including first and second fixed contacts 111, 113, a chokable switch bar 101 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends at 103, first and second movable contacts 109, 108 carried by opposite ends of the switch bar 101 and aligned with the fixed contacts 111, 113, respectively, whereby only one movable contact can be engaged with its associated fixed contact at one time to preclude simultaneous energizing of the first and second solenoid means 61, 72.

FIGS. 16 and 17 disclose a modified form of switch adapted to be substituted for the switch 101 of FIGS. 1 and 6. A push button switch generally indicated at 101a comprises a push button 102a set in an annulus 103a in a switch box 104a. The button includes a stem 105a which is biased outwardly by a spring 106a and which carries at its inner end a disc 107a. The disc 107a, when the button 102a is pressed, contacts the actuating stem 108a of a conventional micro-switch 109a, to close a circuit between wires 110a and 111a.

As best shown in FIG. 18, closure of switch 109a energizes a solenoid 112a which in this case moves severing knife 77 out of cutting position, and simultaneously energizes motor 38 to actuate the paper feeding mechanism. Release of button 102a allows suitable spring means to move knife 77 to paper severing position as the motor is de-energized. The operation is otherwise identical to that previously described.

A modified dispensing device in accordance with the instant inventive concept is shown in FIGURES 8 to 15 wherein parts similar to the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 7 are designated by like reference characters followed by the sufiix a. The modified embodiment 10a includes a timing means whereby a preset quantity of tape may be automatically dispensed by tapping a button control means and a continuous quantity of tape may be dispensed by continuous pressing of the button control means. The internal construction of the housing means is substantially the same in this embodiment except for the construction of the switch means. The timing means is designated generally by the reference numeral 200 and includes a first switch means in the form of a microswitch 202 interposed in the circuitry of the main motor means and the feed solenoid as will be explained in more detail hereinafter. The microswitch 202 includes a pair of spaced contacts (not shown) one of which is carried by a spring pressed button 204 in a well known manner. An actuating arm 206 is pivotally carried by pin means 208 on cars 210 secured to the control panel 33a, pressure on the actuating arm 206 being adapted to engage the button 204 and close the contacts in the microswitch 202. A manually operable control button means 212 is connected by a shaft 214 to the actuating arm 206 to pivot the same into contact bridging relationship on pressure of the button means 212. Latch means in the form of a latch arm 216 having a notch 218 engageable with the actuating arm 206 when the same is pressed into contact bridging relationship to hold the same in this relationship is pivotally mounted by pin 220 on a support element 222 and is spring pressed by a coil spring 224 having one end engaging the support element 222 and the other end engaging the latch arm 216 to normally urge the latch arm into latching engagement with the actuating arm 206.

A release arm 226 surrounds the shaft 214 and includes a portion 228 engageable with the latch arm 216 to release the actuating arm 206 whereby it may be moved out of contact bridging relationship. The release arm 226 includes a right angular portion 230 engaged by a h ook element 232 of an arcuate member 234 carried by a backing plate 236 rotatable with the shaft 214. The backing plate 236 has an elongated extension 238 engageable with the stop 240 carried by a facing plate 242 on which the button means 212 is mounted. Contact of the extension 238 with the stop 240 positions the pointer 244 of a timer setting means 246 comprising a sleeve surrounding and keyed to the button means 212 for rotation therewith at the zero setting 248 of a scale 250 which may be calibrated in inches of tape or any other convenient measure.

A synchronous time and motor means 252 is carried by .a support plate 254 spaced from the supplementary housing by bars 256, the support plate 254 carrying support element 222 and other necessary structural supporting elements. The synchronous motor 252 is a. timer motor means and includes a gear reduction (not shown) with an eccentrically positioned take-off shaft 258 carrying a relatively small gear 260 engageable with a large gear 262 rotatably supported on a shaft 264 and carrying a resilient pad 266. A cup-shaped clutch member 268 is secured to a rotatable shaft 270 and has a plurality of teeth 272 defined about its lower periphery engageable with the resilient pad 266 for a purpose and in a manner to be described in more detail hereinafter. A coil spring means 274 normally biases the clutch member 268 in a direction that the teeth 272 are spaced from the resilient pad 266. A coiled involute spring 276 has one end 278 secured to the shaft 270 and its opposite end 280 carried by an ear 282 integral with the extension 238 of the backing plate 236.

In this embodiment a second switch means in the form of a microswitch 300 is carried by the bracket 64a and has a pair of spaced contacts (not shown) included in a third circuit means for actuating the severing means as will be explained in more detail hereinafter. One of the contacts is connected to a spring pressed button 302 in a well known manner and is engaged by an actuating arm 304 pivotally supported at 306 and adapted to press the button 302 to bridge the contacts. Spring means (not shown) normally maintain the actuating arm out of contact bridging relationship. A follower arm 308 is secured substantially perpendicularly to the actuating arm 304 in spaced relationship to its pivotal mounting 306. The follower arm 308 rotatably carries a follower 310 in the path of travel of the first core 60a as it moves when the first solenoid means 61a is energized and deenergized. Spring pressed hinge means 312 are operatively carried by the follower arm 308 intermediate its ends and stops means 314 are associated with the hinge means 312 to allow the follower arm to fold about the hinge means 312 on engagement of the follower 310 with the first core 60a on energizing of the first solenoid means 61a while precluding folding of the follower arm 308 to thereby pivot the actuating arm 304 into contact bridging relationship on engagement of the follower 310 with the first core 68a on de-energizing of the first solenoid means 610.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 12, the circuitry of this embodiment includes two feed lines 44a, 45a connected to a source of electric current (not shown) with the toggle switch 100a interposed in one of the lines. The main motor means 38a is electrically connected to one of the input lines 44a through conductors 320 and 322, the other side of the motor means 38a being connected to the other input line 45a through conductors 324, 326, and 328 to define a first circuit for energizing the motor means 38a.

The feed or first solenoid means 61a is electrically connected by a second circuit to the source of electric current including conductors 330 and 332 connected to input line 44a and conductors 334, 326, and 328 connected at input line 45a. A first switch means comprising the microswitch 202 is interposed in both the first and second circuit means and the timer motor means 252 and timer mechanism is also energized on closing the first switch means 202 through a circuit including conductors 336 and 320 connected to input line 44a and conductors 338 and 328 connected to the input line 45a.

A third circuit means is defined through the second solenoid means 72a by conductors 332 and 340 connected to input line 44a and conductor 342 connected to input line 45a. The second or knife switch means in the form of the microswitch 300 is interposed in this third circuit means.

The use and operation of the modified embodiment of FIGURES 8 to will now be apparent. With the actuating arm throw 6 in the released position the timer setting means 246 is rotated from the zero position 248 until the pointer 244 designates a selected length of tape on the scale 250. Through the shaft 214 the backing plate 236 is rotated which carries the arcuate element 234 therewith and which through the hooked port-ion 232 of the arcuate element 234 moves the release arm 226 to position the portion 228 of the same a predetermined distance from the latch arm 216. Through the connection of the involute spring 276, movement of the backing member 236 also rotates the clutch member 268 and since the teeth 272 of the same are not engaged with resilient pad 266, this setting of the timer does not require reverse movement of the gear train in the timer motor means 252.

Pressure on the control button means 212 pivots the actuating arm 206 about the pin means 208 into contact with the button 204 on the first switch means 202 to breach the contacts therewithin. The spring means 224 on the latch arm 216 engage the notch 218 over the actuating arm 206 to maintain the arm in the contact bridging relationship when pressure on the control button means 212 is released.

Closing of the contacts in the first switch means 202 completes the first circuit means thereby energizing the main motor means 38a and driving the feed wheel as in the previous embodiment. Simultaneously therewith the second circuit means is completed and the first solenoid means 61a is energized to withdraw its first core 60a and pivot the pressure wheel into contact with the underside of the tape whereby feeding of the tape through the guide means and the severing means is begun. As the first core 60a :is withdrawn on energizing of the first solenoid means 61a it passes over the follower 310 and folds the follower arm 308 about the spring pressed hinge means 12. It will be noticed that the first core 60a has a pair of outstanding winglike members, one of which engages the follower 310 so that there is not constant pressure on the same, but rather instantaneous pressure as the winglike member passes over the follower. The spring pressed hinge means 312 then functions to return the follower arm 308 to its original position while the first core 60a is completely withdrawn by the first solenoid means 61a being energized. Thus, the second switch means 300 is not closed during this procedure.

Pressure on the control button means 212 also engages the teeth 272 on the clutch member 268 with the resilient pad 266, this relationship being maintained by the latch member 216 holding the actuating arm 206 and the clutch member 268 in position. When the first switch means 202 is closed the timer mot-or means 252 is energized to rotate the resilient pad 266 to the engagement of the gear 262 with the gear 260 driven by the motor 252. This in turn rotates the release arm 226 through an operative connection to the clutch member 268 to eventually engage the portion 228 of the release arm 226 with the latch arm 216 pivoting the same against the tension of the spring means 224 to release the actuating arm 206 thereby breaking the contacts in the first switch means 202 and disengaging the clutch member 268 from the resilient pad 266. This procedure occurs when the timer setting means 246 has returned the pointer 244 to the zero position 248;

Opening of the first switch means 202 opens the first and second circuit means d e-energizing the main motor means 38a and the first solenoid means 61a and at the same time de-energizing the timer motor means 252. When the first solenoid means 61a is de-energized the first core 60a is returned to its original position allowing the pressure wheel to fall by gravity away from the undersurface of the tape thereby stopping the feed of the same. As the first core 60a returns to its original position, one of the winglike members on the first core engages the follower 310 and since the stop member 314 precludes folding of the follower arm 308 about the hinge means 312, the actuating arm 304 is instantaneously depressed about its pivotal support 306 to close the contacts in the second switch means 300 and complete the third circuit means thereby energizing the second solenoid means 72a and withdrawing its second core .to pull the severing plate 75a downwardly so that the knife means cuts the premeasured tape. As the first core 60a returns to its original position it passes completely over the follower 310 and the actuating arm 304 is spring pressed to break the contacts in the second switch means 300 and d-e-energize the second solenoid means 72a whereby the springs connected to the severing plate 75a return it to its original position so that the opening therein is again aligned with the tape for the next feeding cycle.

Thus, it will be seen that with this embodiment, like the first, it is impossible to simultaneously actuate the feeding means and the severing means so that tape will not build up behind the knife when it is in cutting position. Although the control button means 212 is not ordinarily maintained under constant pressure, but rather is pressed only long enough to allow the latch arm 216 to engage the actuating arm 206, after a predetermined length has been set by the timer setting means 246, the tape may be fed continuously as in the previous embodiment by maintaining pressure on the control button means 212. This will force the actuating arm 206 and the clutch member 268 downwardly even after the latch member 216 has been released by engagement with the release arm 226. By providing the synchronous motor with a friction clutch, the clutch will stall or slip without overheating or otherwise damaging the timer motor means. Meanwhile, since the first switch means 202 is maintained closed by the actuating arm 206, the pressure wheel will be engaged with the underside of the tape to continuously feed the same. On release of the control button means 212 the first switch means 202 will be opened, stopping the feed, and closing the second switch means 300 on return of the first core 60a to actuate the severing means.

Thus, it will be seen that there is herein provided an automatic tape dispensing device which satisfies all of the objectives of the instant invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept and since many modifications may be made of the embodiments hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A tape dispensing device comprising a housing, means for carrying a roll of tape in said housing, tape guide means including a lower guide plate and an upper guide plate resting on said lower guide plate with the tape adapted to pass from the roll between said guide plates, aligned slots in said guide plates, a feed wheel carried by said housing and extending through one of said slots into contact with one surface of the tape, motor means operatively connected to said feed wheel to rotate the same, a source of electric current, first circuit means interconnecting said source of electric current to said motor means to energize the same, a pressure wheel aligned with said feed wheel and extendable through the other slot into contact with the opposite surface of the tape, support means carried by said housing rotatably supporting said pressure wheel, said support means normally maintaining said pressure wheel out of pressing contact with the tape, first solenoid means, second circuit means interconnecting said source of electric current to said first solenoid means to energize the same, first switch means on said second circuit means normally maintaining said second circuit means open to normally de-energize said first solenoid means, a first core carried by said first solenoid means and operatively connected to said support means to move said pressure wheel into pressing contact with the tape on closing of said first switch means and energizing of said first solenoid means, severing means carried by said housing in juxtaposition to the tape, spring means normal-1y maintaining said severing means out of cutting contact with the tape, second solenoid means, third circuit means interconnecting said source of electric current to said second solenoid means to energize the same, second switch means in said third circuit means normally maintaining said third circuit means open to deenergize said second solenoid means, a second core carried by said second solenoid means and operatively connected to said severing means to move the same into cutting contact with the tape on closing of said second switch means and energizing of said second solenoid means, said second switch means being closable only on de-energizing of said first solenoid means.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said support means includes first yoke means rotatably carrying said pressure wheel at one end, second yoke means, pivot means interconnecting one end of said second yoke means with the other end of said first yoke means at substantially right angles to each other, a support bar carried by said housing, said second yoke means being rotatably connected to said support bar in spaced relation to said pivot means at the one end of said second yoke means, said pressure wheel being normally maintained out of pressing contact with the tape under the influence of gravity, and said first core being operatively connected to the other end of said second yoke means.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said severing means includes a severing plate having an opening aligned with one end of said guide means for reception of the tape therethrough, hinge means carried by said severing plate on one side of said opening, said spring means secured to said severing plate on said one side of said opening, and said second core operatively connected to said severing plate on the other side of said opening.

4. The structure of claim 1 further including paper moistening means on the side of said severing means remote from said feed wheel.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein said first and second switch means includes first and second fixed contacts in said second and third circuit means respectively, a tiltable switch bar pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, first and second movable contacts carried by opposite ends of said switch bar and aligned with said first and second fixed contacts respectively, whereby only one movable contact can be engaged with its associated fixed contact at one time to preclude simultaneous energizing of said first and second solenoid means.

6. The structure of claim 1 wherein said second switch means includes a pair of spaced contacts in said third circuit means, an actuating arm pivotally carried and adapted to bridge said contacts, spring means normally maintaining said actuating arm out of contact bridging relationship, a follower arm secured substantially perpendicularly to said actuating arm in spaced relation to its pivotal mounting, a fol-lower rotatably carried by said follower arm in the path of'travel of said first core as it moves when said first solenoid means is energized and de-energized, spring-pressed hinge means operatively carried by said follower arm intermediate its ends, and stop means associated with said hinge means to allow said follower arm to fold about said hinge means on engagement of said follower with said first core on energizing of said first solenoid means while precluding folding of said follower arm to pivot said actuating arm into contact bridging relationship on engagement of said follower with said first core on de-energizing of said first solenoid means.

7. The structure of claim 1 further including a timing means operatively connected to said first switch means to automatically open said first switch means after a predetermined length of tape has been dispensed.

8. The structure of claim 7 wherein said first switch means includes a pair of spaced contacts in said second circuit means, an actuating arm pivotally carried and adapted to bridge sa d contacts, spring means normally maintaining said actuating arm out of contact bridging relationship, manually pressed button means connected to said actuating arm for pressing the same into contact bridging relationship, latch means pivotally mounted and spring pressed to engage said actuating arm and maintain the same in said contact bridging relationship when said button means is pressed, a release arm engageable with said latch means to release said actuating-arm and allow said spring means to move the same out of contact bridging relationship, timer motor means for moving said release arm, and timer setting means for positioning said release arm a predetermined distance from said latch means *whereby the length of tape dispensed by closing of said first switch means may be preset.

9. The structure of claim 8 further including clutch means interposed between said timer motor means and said release arm, said clutch means being engaged by pressing said button means and disengaged on release of said actuating arm by said latch means to facilitateresetting said timer setting means.

10. The structure of claim 9 wherein said clutch means includes a resilient pad rotatably driven by said timer motor means, a cup-shaped clutch member operatively connected to said release arm for rotating the same, a plurality of teeth carried by said clutch member fixedly engageable with said resilient pad for rotation therewith, said spring means including a coil spring within said Clutch member normally biasing said teeth out of engagement with said resilient pad, said teeth being engaged with said resilient pad on pressure of said button means and maintained in engagement by said actuating arm until said latch means is released.

11. A tape dispensing device comprising a housing, a roll of gummed paper tape in said housing, an inclined paper guide plate having a slot therein in said housing, a paper hold down plate on said guide plate, said hold down plate having a slot therein aligned with said first mentioned slot, a paper feed wheel shaft extending transversely across said casing above said hold down plate, a paper feed wheel on said shaft having portions extending into said second mentioned slot, an electric motor continuously driving said paper feed wheel shaft, a source of electric current connected to said motor, a pressure wheel carrying yoke means pivotally mounted below said guide plate, a pressure wheel rotatably carried by said yoke means in substantially vertical alignment with said paper feed wheel beneath said aligned slots, a first solenoid coil adjacent said yoke, a first solenoid core in said coil operatively connected to said yoke means, first switch means for connecting said source of electric current with said first coil to energize said first coil to pivot said yoke means and hence said pressure wheel into contact with said paper through said slot in said guide plate to cause said feed wheel to dispense said paper from said roll, a severing knife vertically slidable in said housing on the side of said feed wheel remote from said paper roll, spring means normally biasing said knife out of contact with the paper, a second solenoid coil in said housing adjacent said knife, a second solenoid core in said second solenoid coil, means operatively connecting said second core to said knife, second switch means operable to connect said second coil with said source of electric current to move the second core to cause said knife to sever the paper, and paper moistening means in said housing on the side of said knife remote from said feed wheel, said first and second switch means being so arranged as to preclude simultaneous energization of both solenoid coils.

12. A tape dispensing device comprising a housing, a roll of gummed paper tape in said housing, an inclined paper guide plate having a slot therein in said housing, a paper hold down plate on said guide plate, said hold down plate having a slot therein aligned with said first mentioned slot, a paper feed wheel shaft extending transversely across said housing above said hold down plate,

a paper feed wheel on said shaft having portions extend ing into said second mentioned slot, an electric motor continuously driving said paper feed wheel shaft, a source of electric current connected to said motor, a presure wheel carrying yoke means pivotally mounted below said guide plate, a pressure wheel rotatably carried by said yoke means in substantially vertical alignment 'with said paper feed wheel beneath said aligned slots, a first solenoid coil adjacent said yoke, a first solenoid core in said coil operatively connected to said yoke means, first switch means for connecting said source of electric current with said first coil to energize said first coil to pivot said yoke means and hence said pressure wheel into contact with said paper through said slot in said guide plate to cause said feed wheel to dispense said paper from said roll, a severing knife vertically slidable in said housing on the side of said feed wheel remote from said paper roll, spring means normally biasing said knife out of contact with the paper, a second solenoid coil in said housing adjacent said knife, a second solenoid core in said second solenoid coil, means operatively connecting said second core to said knife, second switch means operable to connect said second coil with said source of electric current to move the second core to cause said knife to sever the paper, and paper moistening means in said housing on the side of said knife remote from said feed wheel, said first and second switch means comprising first and second aligned movable contacts and first and second aligned fixed contacts engageable with said first and second movable contacts, said first and second mova'ble contacts being mounted on opposite ends of a centrally pivoted tiltable bar whereby only one movable contact may engage its associated first contact at the same time hence precluding simultaneous energization of said first and second coils and hence simultaneous feeding cutting of said paper tape.

13. The structure of claim 12 wherein a severing plate is provided having a central rectangular opening through which the paper tape passes, said severing knife is secured along the top edge of said opening and said second sole noid core is secured to the bottom edge of said plate.

14. The structure of claim 13 wherein said pressure wheel carrying yoke means includes a first yoke carrying said pressure wheel at one end and pivotally connected at its opposite end to one end of a sec-0nd yoke at substantially right angles thereto, said second yoke being pivotally mounted on a shaft extending between the side walls of said casing at a point above and intermediate the length of the first yoke, and the operative connection with said first solenoid core includes a tension spring between the other end of said second yoke and said first solenoid core.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,800,178 7/1957 Taylor 83-264 X 2,849,067 8/1958 Krueger 83241 3,029,355 4/1962 Krueger et al 83241 X 3,174,374 3/1965 Wick et al 83-221 X 3,176,563 4/1965 Sharpe 83-241 3,177,750 4/1965 Amemiya 83241 WILLIAM S. LAWSON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A TAPE DISPENSING DEVICE COMPRISING A HOUSING, MEANS FOR CARRYING A ROLL OF TAPE IN SAID HOUSING, TAPE GUIDE MEANS INCLUDING A LOWER GUIDE PLATE AND AN UPPER GUIDE PLATE RESTING ON SAID LOWER GUIDE PLATE AND AN UPPER TAPE ADAPTED TO PASS FROM THE ROLL BETWEEN SAID GUIDE PLATES, ALIGNED SLOTS IN SAID GUIDE PLATES, A FEED WHEEL CARRIED BY SAID HOUSING AND EXTENDING THROUGH ONE OF SAID SLOTS INTO CONTACT WITH ONE SURFACE OF THE TAPE, MOTOR MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID FEED WHEEL TO ROTATE THE SAME, A SOURCE OF ELECTRIC CURRENT, FIRST CIRCUIT MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID SOURCE OF ELECTRIC CURRENT TO SAID MOTOR MEANS TO ENERGIZE THE SAME, A PRESSURE WHEEL ALIGNED WITH SAID FEED WHEEL AND EXTENDABLE THROUGH THE OTHER SLOT INTO CONTACT WITH THE OPPOSITE SURFACE OF THE TAPE, SUPPORT MEANS CARRIED BY SAID HOUSING ROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID PRESSURE WHEEL, SAID SUPPORT MEANS NORMALLY MAINTAINING SAID PRESSURE WHEEL OUT OF PRESSING CONTACT WITH THE TAPE, FIRST SOLENOID MEANS, SECOND CIRCUIT MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID SOURCE OF ELECTRIC CURRENT TO SAID FIRST SOLENOID MEANS TO ENERGIZE THE SAME, FIRST SWITCH MEANS ON SAID SECOND CIRCUIT MEANS NORMALLY MAINTAINING SAID SECOND CIRCUIT MEANS OPEN TO NORMALLY DE-ENERGIZE SAID FIRST SOLENOID MEANS, A FIRST CORE CARRIED BY SAID FIRST SOLENOID MEANS AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS TO MOVE SAID PRESSURE WHEEL INTO PRESSING CONTACT WITH THE TAPE ON CLOSING OF SAID FIRST SWITCH MEANS AND ENERGIZING OF SAID FIRST SOLENOID MEANS, SEVERING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID HOUSING IN JUXTAPOSITION TO THE TAPE, SPRING MEANS NORMALLY MAINTAINING SAID SEVERING MEANS OUT OF CUTTING CONTACT WITH THE TAPE, SECOND SOLENOID MEANS, THIRD CIRCUIT MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID SOURCE OF ELECTRIC CURRENT TO SAID SECOND SOLENOID MEANS TO ENERGIZE THE SAME, RECORD SWITCH MEANS IN SAID THIRD CIRCUIT MEANS NORMALLY MAINTAINING SAID THIRD CIRCUIT MEANS OPEN TO DEENERGIZE SAID SECOND SOLENOID MEANS, A SECOND CORE CARRIED BY SAID SECOND SOLENOID MEANS AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SEVERING MEANS TO MOVE THE SAME INTO CUTTING CONTACT WITH THE TAPE ON CLOSING OF SAID SECOND SWITCH MEANS AND ENERGIZING OF SAID SECOND SOLENOID MEANS, SAID SECOND SWITCH MEANS BEING CLOSABLE ONLY ON DE-ENERGIZING OF SAID FIRST SOLENOID MEANS. 